The Lancet
Jan 09, 2016 Volume 387 Number 10014 p95-198 e1-e8
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

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Editorial
Zika virus: a new global threat for 2016
The Lancet
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00014-3
Summary
Concerns about the threat posed to global health security by Zika virus are escalating, with new outbreaks reported in Central and South America. Locally transmitted (autochthonous) cases of Zika have now been detected in Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. The first five autochthonous cases detected in Suriname are reported in Correspondence online, with complete coding of the Zika virus sequence for one patient, and envelope protein coding sequences for three others.

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Comment
Civil–military cooperation in Ebola and beyond
Adam Kamradt-Scott, Sophie Harman, Clare Wenham, Frank Smith III
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01128-9
Summary
The 2014 Ebola outbreak in west Africa blurred the lines between a public health emergency and humanitarian crisis. In so doing, it highlighted serious problems with coordinating disaster responses. Civilian agencies were overwhelmed; several non-government organisations closed down their operations and exited the affected countries; and, although the health sector in Liberia stepped up, Sierra Leone and Guinea remained in disarray. Since then WHO declared Sierra Leone to be Ebola free on Nov 7, 2015,1 and declared the end of human-to-human transmission of Ebola virus in Guinea on Dec 29, 2015.

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Series
Antimicrobials: access and sustainable effectiveness
Access to effective antimicrobials: a worldwide challenge
Ramanan Laxminarayan, Precious Matsoso, Suraj Pant, Charles Brower, John-Arne Røttingen, Keith Klugman, Sally Davies

Antimicrobials: access and sustainable effectiveness
Understanding the mechanisms and drivers of antimicrobial resistance
Alison H Holmes, Luke S P Moore, Arnfinn Sundsfjord, Martin Steinbakk, Sadie Regmi, Abhilasha Karkey, Philippe J Guerin, Laura J V Piddock

Antimicrobials: access and sustainable effectiveness
Maximising access to achieve appropriate human antimicrobial use in low-income and middle-income countries
Marc Mendelson, John-Arne Røttingen, Unni Gopinathan, Davidson H Hamer, Heiman Wertheim, Buddha Basnyat, Christopher Butler, Göran Tomson, Manica Balasegaram
Summary
Access to quality-assured antimicrobials is regarded as part of the human right to health, yet universal access is often undermined in low-income and middle-income countries. Lack of access to the instruments necessary to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe antimicrobials appropriately, in addition to weak health systems, heightens the challenge faced by prescribers. Evidence-based interventions in community and health-care settings can increase access to appropriately prescribed antimicrobials. The key global enablers of sustainable financing, governance, and leadership will be necessary to achieve access while preventing excess antimicrobial use.